A Volunteer's Story: the Women of Gramshree

"Working with the women of Gramshree was one of my favorite experiences while in India. Sometimes it felt like we were on secret missions, being swept through the city, down side streets, whisked into homes and hair salons. Renegade sexual educators armed with a hefty amount of bananas and condoms in blacked-out plastic bags. 

Volunteer Amanda Waldrop with women of Gramshree.

During these workshops our classes consisted of women ages 18-50's and we covered a modified curriculum including HIV information, gender issues, reproductive health, menstruation and the importance of sanitary napkin usage. I must admit, I was a bit nervous to go over the reproductive health portion of the curriculum. I believe I blushed the most when I pulled out the anatomy aprons. There were lots of giggles and even some dirty jokes from the women! After we wrapped up the section (and became a lot more comfortable around each other) I proceeded with the condom demonstration. When the ladies realized what the tiny packages I passed out to them were, the room exploded with noise... mostly laughter. There were a few women who refused to do it, but upon the urging of their friends who asked them to just have fun with it I had the whole room's participation. 

Condom demonstration participation: 100%! Number of women who ate the bananas afterwards: zero. 

I reserved some time at the end of my first workshop for anonymous questions. I passed out the paper and pencils and explained the exercise. The most outspoken of the group returned her paper and pencil to me and said there was "no need to ask questions in secret, we are all sisters." After questions about the curriculum topics, discussion turned to our personal lives. The women told me stories about their families and were eager to learn a few things about me. When they learnt I was married, they insisted I pass around a photo of my husband and they wished us many blessings for a long and happy life together. They even offered to take me home to teach me how to make roti so I could make my husband very fat! 

Amanda and Manali, Field Assistant,
teaching a girl's HIV workshop. 

My sessions weren't always so light hearted. The reality of gender roles in India and how HIV affects women is heartbreaking. During one session, I had a woman approach me in private. She told me that no matter how much she learned about HIV, reproductive health and condom usage, she simply doesn't have a voice when it comes to sex. Being from a place where women do have that voice, I really struggled with this realization. With a lump in my throat I concluded my workshop by distributing the HIV ribbons to my participants. Asking for their help in the fight against HIV, I urged them to share their new knowledge with their daughters, sisters, neighbors. 

Bonding with the women of Gramshree was such a beautiful thing. I found this incredible camaraderie between women in India. One that you can't exactly put into words, you just kind of feel it. My time spent with World Camp opened my eyes to the connections we are all capable of making. I feel so blessed to be able to carry these beautiful experiences with me back to the other side of the world. India taught me me a lot and continues to impact my life each day."

Submitted by: Amanda Conrad Waldrop, India volunteer 2010
*Part X in our Reflections series: How we internalize what we learn abroad into who we are back home. Email submissions to info@worldcampforkids.org or katy@worldcampforkids.org. All forms of reflection encouraged!

WC Happenings: Meet the 2011 Malawi In-Country Staff

A few weeks ago we introduced you to our 2011 Coordinator Team. As we're gearing up for this month's exciting new project with Hole in the Wall Camps and the summer OTE service internships, we thought you'd like to meet our 2011 Malawi Staff as well! Here are the amazing individuals we get to work with:

Michael Kumwenda

Michael Kumwenda: WC Project Coordinator for Hole in the Wall Camps
Michael joins WC this spring as our representative and project coordinator to run camps for kids who know their HIV+ status. This is part of a new partnership initiative between Baylor Pediatric AIDS Hospital, Hole in the Wall Camps and World Camp. With him, Michael brings years of teaching experience, personal connection to the HIV/AIDS crisis in Malawi and vast research and data collection on the educational system in Malawi. Michael is a children's book author; he writes stories that interweave important social issues and cultural practices. We're hoping to use one of his recently published stories in our Empowerment Groups. The story tells about how a kid who finds out she's HIV+ positive and how she navigates the relationships that change around her. Michael is what we affectionately like to call a "passionate educator." He's been a great source of inspiration to our team in the past few years. Aside from Hole in the Wall Camps, volunteers can look forward to Michael visiting camp days and as a guest speaker on various topics.

Marinus Taale: WC Assets and Business Manager
Originally from Holland, Marinus spent considerable time in Zimbabwe and South Africa before settling with his wife, kids and huge dogs in Malawi. In short, Marinus is a wonderful resource for WC because he understands Western and African perspectives and connects well with people from all over. Marinus currently owns Cluny Lodge, a beautiful little bungalow up the road from the WC house in Lilongwe. His extensive experience running successful business in foreign countries lends crucial support for WC's logistics in Malawi. Besides, he makes sure John, Ngoni, Vito and their families are well taken care of when we're in the US. Our local staff simply love him.

Ngoni, Marinus, John at the WC House in Lilongwe

John Chizimba: WC House Manager
John's been with WC nearly as long as there has been a WC. He brings an incredible amount of joy to volunteers' (and coordinators') hearts and stomachs. Volunteers love sitting in the kitchen with him to practice their Chichewa, hear about the Chewa tribe in Malawi, his 10 kids and lovely wife, what he thinks of Bingu, or even just to see his infamous John Chizimba smile. As our house manager in Lilongwe, John works hard to make sure volunteers always have a clean, comfortable home to return to at the end of a long camp day. Perhaps most memorable, are John's famous chocolate cakes, enchilladas and curries. Have no fear parents, your kids will eat well during their service internship in Malawi!

Ngoni and John outside the WC House.

Felix "Ngoni" Gilton: WC Day Security Guard and Grounds Keeper
Ngoni knows the WC grounds like the back of his hand. Each day he trudges around in his favorite rubber boots, working to ensure the safety and upkeep of the premises. He waters the plants, cares for the trees volunteers plant, keeps an eye on ripening mangoes, cuts the grass and mans the gate. Basically he makes sure our grounds stay nice and monitors who comes in/out of WC. Ngoni entertains volunteers with his various facial hair styles and his love of hoo-la-hooping. Occasionally Samson, the youngest of Ngoni's 10 children, comes to hang out with his dad for the day. Volunteers oogle over the baby's adorable cheeks while he learns all about his dad's work. 

Lolesi Vito: WC Night Security Guard
Vito is perhaps the kindest, yet toughest, man in the WC family. He's been with WC for 6 years now, walks from his village to work every day, and puts his all into protecting the WC house overnight. Despite his long night shifts, Vito jumps up at the slightest sound or first sign of a volunteer or coordinator needing something. He makes regular rounds around the house throughout the night, checks safety lights and watches the gate. His loyalty to volunteers (and all of WC) keeps us in good, safe hands.

Monica (John's wife) and Margaret (Ngoni's wife) 

the "Amayis" (Monica and Margaret): WC School Lunch Cooks and Housekeepers
In Chichewa, "amayi" means "the women," and that is exactly who Monica and Margaret are-- our strong backbone, the women of WC. Primarily, these lovely women take on the huge responsibility of cooking between 100-250 traditional nsima and relish lunches each day for our educational outreach camps! This entails about 15 kg of ufa (the ground maize that eventually becomes nsima), 10 bushels of tomatoes and onions, and about 10 kg of whatever is making up that day's relish. Monica and Margaret also work with John inside the house to clean, finish laundry and basically keep the WC house sparkling. The Amayis love working at the same place as their husbands, John and Ngoni, and having village homes next to one another. These strong and beautiful women certainly make our lives happier and easier while in-country.

Margaret Chizimba: WC Accounts Manager
Margaret comes once a week to help Coordinators settle the accounts, copy receipts, log our finances for the NGO board in Malawi and keep our overall budget organized. Margaret currently studies computer science at a local college in Lilongwe. She's the eldest daughter of John and Monica, has a gentle nature and is a joy to have around.

Dennis: WC and Planet Car Hire Bus Driver

Dennis and a WC bus

Dennis is, well, what most volunteers call, "the s**t." His smile and laugh will warm your heart, while his unbelievable driving skills will dazzle your mind. Dennis can turn around a 25 passenger bus in our driveway in 3 turns or less. Despite the nonexistent road signs in the villages, he knows every inch of communities we work in. Dennis can navigate through any and all road conditions and weather in Malawi. He ensures we're on time to camp, safe on the roads and always have a smooth ride.

And of course, there's the amazing team of WC Field Assistants, without whom, we'd be completely lost. We'll highlight this summer's Field Assistant team soon, so check back. Also, visit us on Friday for another Volunteer/Staff Story or Reflection and next week for information on one of our Impact Areas. As always, if you'd like to contribute comments, questions, or even write a blog post, feel free to contact us at info@worldcampforkids.org.

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

A Volunteer's Story: The Literal and Figurative Mountain

Jodi Goodman, volunteer (far right). 

"It was the summer between my sophomore and junior years of college that the pull I had felt coming on for so long became absolutely undeniable.  I knew I had to go somewhere.  I had spent my life in the same small town that my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and so on had spend their sweet, southern lives. But now the world was calling and I had to go.  I just didn’t know where.  With perfect timing, a friend of mine mentioned that her sister was in Honduras.  When I asked more about it, she told me about World Camp and their current work in Malawi and Honduras.  My fingers tingled and my heart thumped in the way it does when you know something is right.  A week later, I applied to World Camp, Malawi.  A year later, I had sent hundreds of donation letters, been showered with generosity, and was featured on the front page of my hometown newspaper.  Then I set foot on a plane for the second time in my life. I was on my way to Malawi, Africa. 

I could, and have, spend days on end sharing the experiences I had in Malawi and their permanent impact. But today, I'll share this one.  One weekend, we planned a hike up a mountain with some of the “street kids” from a local children’s center.  These children had left home or had no home, many as a result of HIV/AIDS.  We had previously spent time at the children’s center playing games and feeding the children.  This day, we met at the base of Mt. Nkhoma on a chilly morning and set off, American volunteers and African children. 

Jodi (center) with WC friends on top of
Mt. Nkoma, Malawi. 

Jodi (center) with kids from camp. 

It was such a happy time.  I can even remember the coolness of the air on my cheeks as we set out.  Children were skipping and we were laughing and singing.  After 30 minutes or so, the hike became more strenuous and I began to sweat and struggle.  A young boy that latched on to me in previous days at the children’s center decided to hike with me on this day too.  He and I walked together the whole time.  In the beginning, we laughed and skipped , but as the hike continued, I became more tired and slow.  There were portions of the trail that were very steep.  As I grew tired, I stopped for a drink of water; sweat trickled down my cheek.  My young companion grabbed my hand, gave me a warm smile, and we continued up the mountain, he walked ahead of me, pulling me along.  It was his strength that gave me the power to complete the journey. 

It is important to remember that I did not speak Chichewa, nor did he speak English.  We Americans were equipped with our tennis shoes or boots and of the children who were not barefoot, most wore ragged sandals.  It struck me that the happiness shining from the faces of these children was more pure than any I had ever seen.  They had no luxuries by American standards. Many of them had no family left or a family torn apart by sickness.  And while I felt so inclined to give it to them, they did not ask for my pity.  Instead, they invited me to share in their happiness.  I had come to Africa with the hopes of somehow touching the lives of others, and as I struggled with ideas of happiness, love, perseverance, and strength I had always known, it was actually my hand that was held as I was pulled up this literal and figurative mountain.  I could not verbally communicate with this precious child. Yet I knew that we spoke another language together and that he understood. 

Through my service with World Camp, I began to develop a deeper sense of service as a reciprocal activity. One where giving and receiving truly happen simultaneously.  When one approaches a situation feeling as though they have something to contribute, most often they leave with far more than they came with.  I was so touched by my experiences in Malawi that I continued working with them the following summer as a volunteer in India.  My experiences with World Camp are so dear to my heart and they continue to affect my beliefs, values, relationships, and decisions every day."

Jodi at Ghandi's Ashram, India. 

Jodi (second from left) dresed in traditional Gujarati wear
with WC friends, India. =

Submitted by: Jodi Goodman, Malawi 2007 volunteer, India 2008 volunteer


*Part IX in our Reflections series: How we internalize what we learn abroad into who we are back home. Email submissions to info@worldcampforkids.org or katy@worldcampforkids.org. All forms of reflection encouraged!

WC Happenings: New Website, Partnerships and Malawi Staff

Laurel and Jesse
Malawi 2005

Hello from our Asheville and Lilongwe offices! We bring you some exciting news this week. We're confident that you'll like these new developments, as they're aimed at helping to increase our effectiveness and expand our impact.

First up....the World Camp website!! Yes, that's right. Years in the making, we've taken volunteers', coordinators' and parents' feedback into consideration, packaged it up, and given WC a brand new look. In a few short weeks we'll launch, so be sure to keep an eye out and let us know what you think. What can you expect? More in-depth info, a separation of specific WC projects, many ways to get/stay involved, health/safety info, photos galore and easier navigation. And of course, the same great heart behind it all. WC legends, Laurel Jernigan and Jesse Pipes have been hard at work with Appnet in Boone to design the site. Did you know these two and the other founders helped create the original WC website 10 years ago?

If you haven't voted on facebook for the new World Camp URL, be sure to do so!

Lusungu Masamba, WC Field Assistant
Camp Hope Malawi Counselor

We're also thrilled to announce WC's official partnership with Hole in the Wall Camps and Baylor Pediatrics. The result? Camp Hope Malawi-a week of camp for kids who are HIV+. At Camp Hope, kids develop a network of support, learn about what it means to know one's status (HIV status, that is), the basics about their illness and how to manage ARVs and treatment. Applicants are currently going through physicals and screenings. This April, WC will help host a counselor training, followed by two separate weeks of camps. The Camp Leadership Team in Malawi consists of 2 Baylor Hospital staff members and 1 WC representative, the amazing Michael Kumwenda. Michael has a deep passion for HIV/AIDS issues and strengthening education systems, taught in both Malawi and the U.S., served on numerous educational research committees, and is a current WC Malawi Board of Trustee member. Joining this team as Camp Hope Counselors are long time WC field assistants Lusungu Masamba and Chickabachi Daire.

Chickabachi Daire (center), WC Field Assistant
Camp Hope Malawi Counselor

Finally, World Camp is in the process of interviewing applicants for a new Malawi Country Manager! The incredible individual who fills this position will serve as our eyes, ears and heart throughout the year. Among the many talents and responsibilities of the Country Manager, (s)he will work with coordinators to oversee our regular sessions, represent WC at Ministry of Education, NGO Board and local partnership meetings, manage Professional Capacity Building volunteers throughout the year, act as a resource for students and teachers in between our sessions. And of course, take care of our beloved staff members-John, Ngoni, Vito- and their families. Baker Henson, WC President, and Jesse Pipes, WC Director of Operations, will train our new Country Manager during their trip to Malawi in April. Stay tuned for our announcement of hire and the developments that come from this position.

We hope this finds you well and enjoying your week. Check back on friday to hear more reflections from WC volunteers and staff members. And as always, if you have something you'd like to contribute, feel free to post below or email us at info@worldcampforkids.org.

Zikomo kwambili and tionana (thank you and see you next time)! 

Impact Areas: Reproductive Health & Gender Equality-A Look at Malawi & the U.S.

Talk to a WC volunteer and chances are they'll tell you empowerment was a favorite part of camp. They'll also tell you how heart wrenching and challenging it is. It's the part of our curriculum that, perhaps, holds the most potential to create positive change. Because it’s where we really get into the gritty reality behind the HIV/AIDS crisis. In the general sense: power struggles, gender inequality, sexual relationships, decision making. In the more specific sense: pregnant girls who know nothing about the female reproductive system; boys who think that rape is the only way they'll ever have sex, as they believe girls don’t actually like sex; teenagers with raging hormones but various condom use barriers (no pun intended). All in country where 1 in 7 are HIV+. 

Volunteers always want to know more about these issues. Six years later, I’m still learning about them myself. So we’ll try to revisit these on our blog from time to time. And what better way to start than with the recent Planned Parenthood debate in the House? A few weeks ago, in a 240 to 185 vote, the House voted on an amendment to Title X, preventing programs like Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funding.

Female Empowerment, Malawi Summer 2005

Female Empowerment, India 2008

This funding debacle reminds me of the questions I give the utmost importance to during empowerment, yet also fill me with dread: What is the morning after pill and can we get it? What can a girl do if she gets pregnant and wants to go to school? What do we do if the boy refuses to wear a condom, or if we don’t have a condom? What if girls never want to have sex with us? If a baby is made by two people, should the guy also have a say in abortion? I dread these questions because the answers I have often feel hollow. Even when the facts are good news, I wonder what realities actually play out.

Girl: What should a girl do if she is raped?
Me: The first thing she should do is tell someone. Rape is something that affects a woman physically, emotionally and mentally. It is very painful, and painful in many ways. So a girl needs help from someone she trusts. A police person, a teacher, her mother, her sister, a friend. If possible, a doctor should examine her to make sure her body did not suffer permanent damage and to get tested for STIs. If she is scared to be by herself or around the perpetrator, we, as her friends, should walk with her to school or home and make sure she is never alone.
Girl: Oh. What if no one believes her, or no one cares? What if she can’t see a doctor? What can she do then?

Like the Planned Parenthood dispute, these situations are harsh reminders of the world's general lack of support for women (and men for that matter), their reproductive health and their right to positive sexual experiences. All this got me thinking about a person’s right to his/her own body, and what role policy-making should have. When it comes to these, do policies in the U.S. and Malawi, differ that much? What about actual practices? Let's take a look. (We'll have to revisit and analyze in a subsequent blog post, just the facts for now.)

Access to Reproductive Health Care:
Community care clinics, various health insurance programs and non-profit organizations provide a vast majority of free or sliding-scale reproductive health care in the U.S.. Planned Parenthood is perhaps the largest of these programs. Currently, 20% of females in America seek/have sought services from Planned Parenthood at some point. Over 5 million males and females receive services each year. 90% of the organization’s care is preventative: contraceptives, STI testing/treatment, cervical cancer screening and sexual health education programs. 1.2 million people participate in these programs each year.

Malawi has few systems in place that provide as vast of care as organizations like Planned Parenthood. Much of the reproductive health education comes from international organizations (like World Camp, USAID, CARE, etc.), even though students technically receive health education in the latter part of their Standard 8 year.

Contraception (i.e. Birth Control):
Multiple kinds of birth control exist in the U.S.: combined and progestin only oral contraceptive pills, vaginal rings, injections, IUDs and the patch. Nearly 41% of women in the U.S. use contraception compared with about 15% of women in Malawi. In Malawi, direct support and supervision is required for those using birth control.

Emergency contraception, or the “morning after pill,” doesn’t end a pregnancy, but rather prevents a woman from ovulating and thickens her cervical mucus, thus reducing the chances an egg can join sperm if ovulation has already occurred. In Malawi, emergency contraception is available, but generally only provided at hospitals for rape victims (free of cost.) It is available in the U.S. without a prescription or parental consent to women 17 and older and usually costs around $40. No reason given or counseling is required.

Abortion:
In Malawi, abortion is illegal--in cases of rape, incest, economic/social resasons, to preserve physical/mental health, and foetal impairment. A person who performs an abortion can be sentenced to 14 years; a woman who seeks an abortion can serve 7. The "big" exception, however, is 'to save a woman's life.' Abortion is permitted if it is the only way to save the mother's life; those who seek and/or perform are not subject to imprisonment.

Roe vs. Wade (1973) legalized abortion throughout the U.S. However, to date, only 15 states permit women under the age of 18 to seek an abortion without some form of parental consent or notification. The Hyde Ammendment of 1976-7 ruled that no federal funding could be used to provide abortions, except in cases of rape or incest. 

BLOG POST RESOURCES & FURTHER INFORMATION
Reproductive Health and Contraception:
http://info.k4health.org/pac/strategies/MOHMal_PAC_Strategy.pdfhttp://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/birth-control-methods.cfm#emeconAbortion in Malawi: Population Division of the Department for Economic and  Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat (http://www.un.org/esa/population/)History of Abortion in the U.S.: http://www.prochoice.org/about_abortion/history_abortion.htmlHouse Debate on Title X: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-votes-strip-planned-parenthood-federal-funding/story?id=12951080http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/18/planned-parenthood-fundin_n_825258.htmlhttp://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-02-24/news/chi-110224bauer_briefs_1_health-care-health-centers-family-planningMore on Title X:http://www.hhs.gov/opa/familyplanning/index.htmlParental Consent and Notifcation Laws: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/abortion/parental-consent-notification-laws-25268.htm


Submitted by: Katy Lackey, WC Coordinator.


**If you'd like to submit a post concerning one of 3 Impact Areas-HIV/AIDS, Environmental Issues or Gender Equality-, please email info@worldcampforkids.org or katy@worldcampforkids. Excerpts from current undergrad and grad research papers, discussions from classes, thoughts on articles, etc. are encouraged!**